Chapter 4: The Legal Requirements of Boating
Alcohol and Drugs
Vermont law prohibits anyone from boating while intoxicated (BWI)
-- that is, operating a vessel while intoxicated due to alcohol,
drugs, or any combination of alcohol and drugs. Alcohol and drugs
cause impaired balance, blurred vision, poor coordination, impaired
judgment, and slow reaction time. Read
more about the effects and risks of consuming alcohol here.
Alcohol contributes to about one-third of all boating accidents
nationwide.
Vermont law states that a person is considered to be intoxicated
if he or she:
- Has a concentration of alcohol in his or her blood of 0.08%
or more based upon a chemical analysis of breath or blood or ...
- Is under the influence of intoxicating liquor or ...
- Is under the influence of any other drug or combination of
alcohol and drugs to a degree that he or she is incapable of
operating safely.
Vermont law establishes the following penalties for BWI.
- Upon a first conviction, those convicted of boating while intoxicated
will lose the privilege to operate any vessel (except for a non-motorized
canoe or rowboat) for up to one year, must successfully complete
an alcohol program at the person’s own expense, and be
fined up to $750.
- Upon subsequent convictions, the fine is increased up to $1,000.
- A person boating while intoxicated who causes the death of
another person will, upon conviction, be imprisoned for up to
five years, fined up to $2,000, or both imprisoned and fined.
Vermont law has special provisions for operators under 21 years
of age.
- It is unlawful for a person under 21 years of age who has a
blood alcohol concentration of 0.02% or more to operate a vessel.
- For a first violation, the person will lose the privilege to
operate any vessel (except for a non-motorized canoe or rowboat)
for at least six months and must successfully complete an alcohol
program at the person’s own expense. For subsequent violations,
the privilege to operate a vessel will be lost for one year or
until the person reaches 21 years of age, whichever is longer.
- A person under 21 years of age who refuses to submit to a breath
test after a warning will be subject to the same penalties as
for boating while intoxicated.
By operating a vessel on Vermont waters, you have consented to
be tested for alcohol or drugs if requested by a law enforcement
officer. If you refuse to be tested, you will be subject to the
same penalties as for boating while intoxicated.
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Areas of Impairment Due to Blood Alcohol
Concentration (BAC)
Because you can drink faster than your system can burn
off the alcohol, there is an increasing level of alcohol in your blood.
This level is referred to as Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC). |
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